Toy diver



y 7, 1957 HIRSCH ETAL 2,791,062

TOY DIVER Filed June 6, 1955 IN VEN TORS HE/VR Y H/RSCH BENJAMIN L4 H/RSCH wwa ATT R/VE'Y United States PatentO TOY DIVER Henry Hirsch and Benjamin L. Hirsch, Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Kellogg Company, Battle Creek, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application June 6, 1955, Serial No. 513,453

8 Claims. (CI. 46-92) This invention relates to toy divers such as may simulate in appearance so called frogmen equipped to perform amphibious military missions.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a toy diver capable of automatically and successively submerging below the surface of water, sinking, rising and partially emerging from the surface.

Another object is to provide a toy diver that will sink foot first in a vessel of water, stand upright on the bottom of the vessel while submerged, continue in upright position-while automatically rising from the bottom and then tilt into a face down swimming position as it partially emerges from the surface of the water.

Other objects, features and advantages will be apparent upon perusal of the following description illustrated by the accompanying drawing of which:

Fig. I is a view in perspective taken from in front of a toy diver embodying this invention;

Fig. II is a view in perspective taken from the rear of the toy diver illustrated in Fig. I;

Fig. III is a view in perspective taken from in front of the toy diver showing a different weapon;

Fig. IV is a view in perspective taken from the side of the toy diver shown in Fig. III; and

Fig. V is a fragmentary sectional view on an. enlarged scale showing details of a combined stabilizing, buoyancy altering and propelling device which is attached to one foot of each toy diver as illustrated in Figs. I, II, III, and IV.

The specific drawing and the specific description that follows illustrate and disclose the invention but are not intended to limit its scope.

The toy diver of this invention comprises a figurine in the form of a man accoutered for amphibious military missions and a chamber adapted to contain an effervescent material to evolve gas and thereby vary the displacement of the toy diver, the chamber being :50 located and proportioned and having a gas discharge port of such size and so located and designed as to release gas in increments great enough to reduce the displacement sufficiently to put the toy diver into sinking condition by the release of a single increment, the discharge port being so oriented that the dischargeof gas therefrom tends to propel the figurine head first, the figurine being composed of material the specific gravity of which is slightly less than that of water, there being a member attached adjacent a foot of the figurine of such size and formed of material of such density that the total weight of said toy diver is greater than the weight of a volume of water equal to the volume of said toy diver, said member tending to cause said figurine to stand upright and float upright when completely submerged, the upper portion of said figurine extending forwardly so that as said upper portion emerges from the surface of Water and ceases to be buoyed up it falls forward and tilts the toy diver so that the figurine lies face down.

' The'figu'rine 1 is shaped to simulate in miniature a man equipped for amphibious military missions with a Scabbard 2, an oxygen head gear 6 or compressed air tank 3, flipper shoes 4 and 5 and weapons such as a knife 7 or a time bomb 8. One of the flipper shoes 5 is attached to a conical chamber 9, preferably by being molded integrally therewith.

The figurine 1 may be solid or hollow. If the figurine 1 is solid, it and its equipment and the conical container 9 are preferably molded integrally of plastic material the density of which is somewhat less than the density of water, e. .g. polyethylene. If the figurine is hollow it may be molded of material the density of which is greater than the density of water.

The chamber 9 has a cupped closure 10 inserted bottom up in its open end. The closure is made of metal or other comparatively heavy material which tends to take a lowermost position when the diving toy is submerged. The density of the integrally molded figurine, accouterments, conical chamber, and closure and the volumetric capacity of the chamber and closure are such that in water the toy diver will turn to upright position and sink if the conical chamber and cupped closure are full of liquid or powder and will rise until 20% or more of the toy diver extends above the surface of the water if the chamber and the upwardly cupped closure is charged with gas. The closure 10 has an aperture 11 to permit gas to escape from the conical chamber 9 while the closure prevents the spilling of any non-free-fiowing substance with which the chamber may be filled.

To prepare the toy diver for automatic tilting and diving in upright position and then rising and tilting to substantially horizontal face down swimming position the closure 10 is removed and with the toy diver inverted, the conical chamber 9 is loosely filled with a dry pulverulent substance that effervesces when wet. Baking powder is a suitable substance. The closure 10 then is inserted into the conical chamber 9 to the position in which it is shown in Fig. I. Insertion of the closure 10 into the conical chamber 9 lightly packs the effervescent powder so that it absorbs water by capillary action. If the closure 10 is dampened before insertion into the chamber 9 such water repellent characteristics, if any, as exist on its surface are reduced and a better junction is achieved between the surface of the closure and the powder particles in contact with the surface.

When the toy diver thus prepared is placed in a vessel of water capillary action draws water into the powder and the toy diver turns upright and descends. Gas generated during efiervescence accumulates in the chamber 9 and in the cupped closure 10 forcing out the water and thus increasing the effective volume of the toy diver, which thereupon ascends. The figurines arm or arms and the head and shoulders that emerge from the surface are inclined forwardly. Hence when they project from the water and are no longer buoyed up they tilt the toy diver until they again dip into the water and are buoyant. The figurine thus moves in a lifelike manner to assume a swimming position. The chamber 9 and the closure 10 retain their buoyancy and swing in toward the surface. The closure 10 thus partakes of the tilting movement until when the figurine is prone the gas content of the cupped closure is permitted to escape in the form of a large bubble. Escape of the gas has a momentary reactive effect which tends to propel the figurine head foremost so that it appears to come to the surface, assume a swimming position and start to swim ahead.

As soon as the toy divers momentum is overcome the weight of the metallic closure pulls the feet of the figurine downwardly so that the figurine goes into a graceful foot first dive. If the depth of the Water in which the performance takes place is nearly twice the length of the toy diver (-e. g. if the toy diver is 3 /z inches long and the water is 6 or 7 inches deep)- the toy diver will stand Patented May 7,

upright on the bottom of the vessel until enough gas has accumulated in the conical chamber 9 and the cupped closure 10-by etfervescence to restore the buoyancy wherepcn t e figurin a ain wi l is to the surface and a hrou h t m rg n imming andsubm r ng cyc e c ed abov w The foregoing deseription is to be regarded as illustrative only; the invention is subject to modification within the spirit and scope of the subjoined vclaims.

We claim:

1- .A toy diver comprising, in combination, a figurine, simulating in miniature a man accoutered for an amphibious military mission, a conical chamber attached at its al to the foot of said figurine and having antopen base, said figurine and said conical chamber being integrally molded of material the density .of which is slightly less than the density of water, a cupped member having an aperturcd bottom, said cupped member being fitted ottom up into the open base of said conical chamber, said cupped member being formed of material having a density substantially greater than the density of water whereby said toy diver will sink in water and stand there in upright position whensaid conical chamber and said cupped member are filled with water, the apertured bottom of said cupped member. being capable of retaining pulverulent material in said conical chamber while permitting the escape of gas evolved within said conical chamber as by etfcrvescence of such pulverulent material, the di mcnsions of saidv cupped member being such that it will hold sufiicient gas to render said toy diver buoyant, the shape of said figurine being such that said figurine will assume i prone swimming position when said toy diver is fioatingthe shape of said cupped member being such that when tilted under water while filled with gas it will release such gas in bubble form, the head and an arm constituting the upper portion of said figurine extending upwardly and forwardly whereby when said upper portion emerges from the surface of water said toy diver will tilt forwardly until said figurine is in face down swimming position and said cupped member releases its content of gas and propels said figurine head first along the surface and functions as a sinker to cause the figurine to resumc itsupright position and descend foot first pending the refilling of said cupped member with gas.

2. A toy diver comprising, in combination, a figurine, a conical chamber attached at its apex to the foot of said figurine and having an open base, said figurine and said conical chamber weighing, slightly less than an equal volume of water, a cupped member having an apertured bottom, said cupped member being fitted bottom up into the open base of said conical chamber, said cupped member being formed of material having a density substantially greater than the density of water whereby said toy diver will sink in water and stand there in upright position when said conical chamber and said cupped member are filled with water, the apertured bottom of said cupped memher being capable of retaining pulverulent material in said conical chamber while permitting the escape of gas evolved within said conical chamber as by etfervescence of such pulverulcnt material, the dimensions of said cupped membcrtbeing such that it will hold suflicient gas to render said toy diver buoyant, the shape of said figurine being such that said figurine will assume a prone swimming position when said toy diver is floating, the shape of said cupped member being such that when tilted under water while filled withg as it will release such gas in bubble form, the head and an arm constituting the upper portion of said figu ine extending upwardly and forwardly whereby when said upper portion emerges from the surface of water toy .tdiver twill tilt forwardly until said figurine is in face down swimming position and said cupped member 'eieases its eontent of gas and propels said figurine head firs along the surface and func ions as a sink r o cause the figuyincto resume its upright position and descend foot first pending the refilling of said cupped member with gas.

3. A toy diver comprising, in combination, a figurine, simulating in miniature a man accoutered for an amphibious military mission, a chamber attached to the foot of said figurine and having an open base, said figurine and said chamber being integrally molded of material the density of which is slightly less than the density of water, a cupped member having an apertured bottom, said cupped member being fitte ottom up n o he open ba e of said chamber, said cupped member being formed of material having a density substantially greater than the density of water whereby said toy diver will sink in water and stand there in upright position when said chamber and said cupped member are filled with water, the apertured bottom of said cupped member being capable of retaining pulverulent material in said chamber while permitting the escape of gas evolved within said chamber as by eifervescence of such pulverulent material, the dimensions of said cupped member being such that it will hold sufficient gas to render said toy diver buoy-ant, the shape of said figurine being such that said figurine will assume a prone swimming position when said toy diver is floating, the shape of said cupped member being such that when tilted under water while filled with gas it will release-such gas in bubble form, the head and an arm constituting the upper portion of said figurine extending upwardly and forwardly whereby when said upper por tion emerges from the surface of water said toy diver will tilt forwardly until said figurine is in face down swimming position and said cupped member releases its content of gas and propels said figurine head first along the surface and functions as a sinker to cause the figurine to resume its upright position and descend foot first pending the refilling of said cupped member with gas.

4. A toy diver comprising, in combination, a figurine, simulating in miniature a man accoutercd for an armphibious military mission, a conical chamber attached at its apex to the foot of said figurine and having an open base, said figurine and said conical chamber being integrally molded of material the density of which is slightly less than the density of water, a cupped member having an apertured bottom, said cupped member being fitted bottom up into the open base of said conical chamber,

" said cupped member being formed of material having a density substantially greater than the density of water whereby said toy diver will sink in water and stand there in upright position when said conical chamber and said cupped member are filled with water, the apertured bottom of said cupped member being capable of retaini g pulvernlent material in said conical chamber while pct mitting the escape of gas evolved within said conical chamberas by elfervescence of such pulverulent material, the dimensions of said cupped member being such that it will hold sufficient gas to render said toy diver buoyant, the shape of said figurine being such that said figurine will assume a prone swimming position when said toy diver is floating, the shape of said cupped member being such that when tilted under water while filled with gas it will release such gas in bubble form, the upper portion of said figurine extending upwardly and forwardly whereby when said upper portion emerges from the surface of water said toy diver will tilt forwardly until said figurine is in face down swimming position and said cupped member releases its content of gas and propels said figurine head first along the surface. I

5. A toy diver comprising, in combination, a figurine, a chamber, attached to the foot of said figurine and hav' ing an open base, said figurine and saidchamber weighing slightly less than an equal volume of water, a cupped member having an apertured bottom and being fitted bottom up into the open base of said chamber, said cupped memb r b ing te med f ma rial h in a en y v anii lly sl'eaterthan the density of water whereby said n n AM toy diver will sink in water and stand there in upright position when said chamber and said cupped member are filled with water, the apertured bottom of said cupped member being capable of retaining pulverulent material in said chamber while permitting the escape of gas evolved within said chamber as by eifervescence of such pulverulent material, the dimensions of said cupped member being such that it will hold sufiicient gas to render said toy diver buoyant, the shape of said figurine being such that said figurine will assume a prone swimming position when said toy diver is floating, the shape of said cupped member being such that when tilted under water while filled with gas it will release such gas in bubble form, the head and an arm constituting the upper portion of said figurine extending upwardly and forwardly whereby when said upper portion emerges from the surface of water said toy diver will tilt forwardly until said figurine is in face down swimming position and said cupped member releases its content of gas and propels said figurine head first along the surface and functions as a sinker to cause the figurine to resume its upright position and descend foot first pending the refilling of said cupped member with gas.

6. A toy diver comprising, in combination, a figurine, a conical chamber attached at its apex to the foot of said figurine and having an open base, said figurine and said conical chamber weighing slightly less than an equal volume of water, a cupped member having an apertured bottom and being fitted bottom up into the open base of said conical chamber, said cupped member being formed of material having a density substantially greater than the density of water whereby said toy diver will sink in water and stand there in upright position when said conical chamber and said cupped member are filled with water, the apertured bottom of said cupped member being capable of retaining pulverulent material in said conical chamber while permitting the escape of gas evolved within said conical chamber as by efiervescence of such pulverulent material, the dimensions of said cupped member being such that it will hold sufiicient gas to render said toy diver buoyant, the shape of said figurine being such that said figurine will assume a prone swimming position when said toy diver is floating, the shape of said cupped member being such that when tilted under water while filled with gas it will release such gas in bubble form, the upper portion of said figurine extending upwardly and forwardly whereby when said upper portion emerges from the surface of water said toy diver will tilt forwardly until said figurine is in face down swimming position and said cupped member releases its content of gas and propels said figurine head first along the surface.

7. A toy diver comprising, in combination, a figurine, simulating in miniature a man accoutered for an amphibious military mission, a chamber attached to the foot of said figurine and having an open base, said figurine and said chamber being integrally molded of material the density of which is slightly less than the density of water,

a cupped member having an apertured bottom and being fitted bottom up into the open base of said chamber, said cupped member being formed of material having a density substantially greater than the density of water whereby said toy diver will sink in water and stand there in upright position when said chamber and said cupped member are filled with water, the apertured bottom of said cupped member being capable of retaining pulverulent material in said chamber while permitting the escape of gas evolved within said chamber as by eifervescence of such pulverulent material, the dimensions of said cupped member being such that it will hold 'suflicient gas to render said toy diver buoyant, the shape of said figurine being such that said figurine will assume a prone swimming position when said toy diver is floating, the shape of said cupped member being such that when tilted under water while filled with gas it will release such gas in bubble form, the upper portion of said figurine extending upwardly and forwardly whereby when said upper portion emerges from the surface of water said toy diver will tilt forwardly until said figurine is in face down swimming position and said cupped member releases its content of gas and propels said figurine head first along the surface.

8. A toy diver comprising, in combination, a figurine, a chamber attached to the foot of said figurine and having an open base, said figurine and said chamber weighing slightly less than an equal volume of water, a cupped member having an apertured bottom and being fitted bottom up into the open base of said chamber, said cupped member being formed of material having a density substantially greater than the density of water whereby said toy diver will sink in water and stand there in upright position when said chamber and said cupped member are filled with water, the apertured bottom of said cupped member being capable of retaining pulverulent material in said chamber while permitting the escape of gas evolved within said chamber as by elfervescence of such pulverulent material, the dimensions of said cupped member being such that it will hold sufficient gas to render said toy diver buoyant, the shape of said figurine being such that said figurine will assume a prone swimming position when said toy diver is floating, the shape of said cupped member being such that when tilted under water while filled with gas it will release such gas in bubble form, the upper portion of said figurine extending upwardly and forwardly whereby when said upper portion emerges from the surface of water said toy diver will tilt forwardly until said figurine is in face down swimming position and said cupped member releases its content of gas and propels said figurine head first along the surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,712,710 Hirsch July 12, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 240,230 Germany Oct. 31, 1911 

